NEVADA CITY, CA – Earlier this summer, local law enforcement and fire agencies invited community members to create and submit their best Nevada County breast cancer awareness design to be transformed into this year’s Pink Patch Project Breast Cancer Challenge Coin.
In total, 28 designs were received ranging from hand-drawn to digital creations.
“Nevada County residents stepped up their creativity and ideas for this year’s coin,” said Nevada County Probation Officer Amy Moon, who is the Pink Patch Coordinator for Probation. “We received several designs this year that heavily embraced Nevada County as a whole, including designs featuring the Bridgeport Covered Bridge, the Yuba River, the California Poppy, and of course a significant number that spoke to breast cancer specifically.”
The winning design comes from a local Penn Valley resident, who requested to only be recognized as “JH”. The design embraces Nevada County’s goldmining history, reflecting a shovel and axe, in addition to wildflowers local to the area and pink ribbons.
“As someone who grew up in Nevada County, this community has always held a special place in my heart,” said JH. “I wanted this design to reflect both our Gold Country roots and the incredible dedication of our local first responders. Breast cancer has also impacted my family personally—my mom, sister, and aunt are all breast cancer survivors—so this project means more to me than just creating a coin. I’m incredibly honored that this design was chosen and hope it serves as a symbol of hope, strength, and the community coming together for an important cause.”
JH’s coin design will represent the 2026 Pink Patch Project Breast Cancer Challenge Coin for Nevada County. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the importance of early detection and prevention, every October, participating law enforcement and fire agencies sell Pink Patch Project Breast Cancer Challenge Coins for $20 each with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting local breast cancer research and services at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation in Grass Valley and Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation in Truckee. Agency-worn pink patches and merchandise are also sold annually to benefit both foundations.
Agencies that make the Pink Patch Project possible include the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, Grass Valley Police Department, Truckee Police Department, Nevada City Police Department, Grass Valley Fire Department, Nevada County Consolidated Fire District, Nevada County Probation and newly joined this year: Truckee Fire Protection District and Penn Valley Fire Protection District. All nine agencies will fundraise and collectively sell coins, pink patches, and other merchandise this October to benefit breast cancer prevention.
Coins, patches and merchandise will be available for purchase by Oct. 1.